Couple faces charges of attempted murder

The Santa Ana teens confronted a Costa Mesa man at his home, where one of them fired at him but missed, authorities say.

May 25, 2012|By Lauren Williams

Jessica Gascon (Daily Pilot )

A teenage couple was arraigned in a Newport Beach court Friday on charges that they conspired to murder a friend and left threatening messages on the friend's Facebook page, authorities said.

Jessica Gascon, 18, of Santa Ana pleaded not guilty to felony counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit a crime and assault with a semiautomatic firearm, court documents show.

Her 17-year-old boyfriend, also of Santa Ana, pleaded not guilty to felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, criminal threats and discharge of a firearm into an inhabited dwelling, according to court documents.

Authorities claim there was a plot to kill their friend, a Costa Mesa man, because Gascon said he was making unwanted sexual advances toward her on the night of April 10, according to the Orange County district attorney's office.

About midnight April 11, the two allegedly drove to the victim's home and, according to prosecutors, Gascon allegedly called the man asking him to come out of his house, at which point the 17-year-old confronted him.

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As the man fled, the boy fired at him and shot into another home, authorities said.

Police arrested Gascon and her boyfriend May 1.

If convicted, the boyfriend faces a maximum of 55 years to life in prison, and Gascon faces a maximum of 25 years to life.